7S 
406 . 
MELOLONTHA FULLO. 
The Kent Cockchaffer. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Melolonthidae. 
Type of the Genus , Scarabseus Melolontha Linn. 
Melolontha Fab., Lat., MacLeay, Curt. — Scarabseus Linn. 
Antenna inserted before the eyes in a cavity beneath the clypeus, 
as long as the head, lamelliform, much larger in the male than 
female, 10-jointed, basal joint the longest, robust, subclavate, 
pilose above, 2nd chalice-shaped, 3rd considerably longer than 
the 2nd, elongate pear-shaped, the remainder very much pro- 
duced on one side in the male and forming 7 broad thin plates 
(6<J) : 4th joint cup-shaped in the female, the remainder forming 
6 much shorter and narrower plates than in the other sex (6 2 ) . 
Labrum transverse, thick, pilose, bilobed, having a deep notch in 
the centre, the margins ciliated with broad and acute bristles (1 ). 
Mandibles subtrigonate, bent at the apex, one being broader and 
thinner than the other ; at the base of each on the inside is a 
black horny space, furrowed transversely, and margined above 
with a coriaceous pubescent membrane (2). 
Maxillce short and stout, horny at the apex and cleft into teeth 
with a coriaceous pilose margin or lobe on the inside. Palpi 
considerably longer than the labial, pilose, 4-jointed, basal joint 
minute, 2nd subclavate longer than the 3rd which is obovate, 
4th as long again subventricose-ovate (3). 
Mentum suborbicular, pilose, concave at the base, slightly emar- 
ginate I *Ve, forming 2 obtuse angles. Palpi attached to 2 
tubercle i sHe where a notch is formed in the mentum $ 
short, p'lose late, basal joint minute, 2nd longer obtri- 
gonate, 3rd err onger than the 2nd ; subconical. Lip con- 
cealed behind tu^ nu n am, subcordate and fleshy (4). 
Clypeus sabquudrate, circumscribed by a transverse suture before the 
eyes, the angles rounded, the anterior margin very thick, and recurved. 
Eyes remote, with a horny pubescent lobe extending along the middle. 
Thorax broad, narrowed before. Scutellum large. Elytra ovate, 
shorter than the body. Wings very ample. Abdomen attenuated 
and horny at the apex. Legs rather slender. Thighs short. Tibi®, 
anterior slightly dila 'ed, with an internal spur and 2 teeth on the 
outside at the apex (5) ; shorter and broader in the female (5 9); the 
other tibice spined and spurred at the apex. Tarsi alike in both sexes, 
5 -jointed, terminal joint the longest and clavate. Claws with a small 
tooth at the base (5, fore leg of a male). 
Fullo Linn. F. S. 137. 394. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 1 28. 1 . 
In the Author s and other Cabinets. 
The M. vulgaris and M. solstitialis occasionally make their 
appearance in myriads, flying about trees and hedges in the 
evening ; at such times they are very annoying, but being 
perfectly harmless, it is a prejudice to be alarmed as many 
